Too old for treatment?

Lollee you're actually spot-on about doctors not touching patients. My dd is a medical student. They learn to make a diagnosis from the history the patient gives them, plus any tests. 90% of the diagnosis is arrived at from those things.

Physical examination isn't often very useful e.g. looking at swollen ankles will not reveal what has caused the swelling. An examination may merely confirm the diagnosis the doctor has arrived at from the patient history.

Watermeadow's doctor is well out of order, though, and another opinion needs to be sought.

My own Dr is brilliant, and doesnt rush you out either, but one lady Dr had a patient who was complaining of bad pains in his back,[actually a friend of mines brother in law] she didnt even examine him gave him some painkillers, he died the next day of a coronary,it was symptom of heart problems,
She was prosecuted but still practices,i will never go ton her,she should have taken his blood pressure too, but did nothing

I have never felt that my age has made any difference to the service I have received - indeed they are wanting to do a second gastroscopy on me even though I had one in October last year. So they are not holding back, though I rather wish they would! Goodness knows what they think might have changed in that short time.

I know an 84 year old man who has just had a knee replacement and waiting for the other one to be done

I dont think there should be any upper age limit for treatment

When I went for my flu jab last year the doctor who saw me said I should have the pnuemonia jab as well. I thought oh well , why not!? So after giving me my jabs, one in each arm, he said that the pnuemonia jab would last 30 years and I wouldn't need another as I'm 68. I looked him full in the eye and said my gran lived to 98 my mum lived to 92..... so I would see him in 30 years. He burst out laughing and said its hat attitude he "no doubt would". I bet he's retired when I return for my next pnuemonia jab!!!

OLDMEG the only reason you got same day app is because nobody else will tolerate that sort of behaviour. You're as entitled to treatment as the next bod....everybody who's Ill is sure to get treated in this country. I don't care if they've never paid in a penny to the system....our country surely is about compassion if nothing else. Seems your doctor is jaded and certainly run out of compassion!

My DM is 72 and a regular visitor to her GP. She is given the same consideration as every other patient, and a little bit extra, I think. She had a very serious condition diagnosed at age 71 which was treated without delay. I think it's time for you to see another GP. Don't let anyone make you feel unworthy of medical treatment.

These mixed replies show that treatment is totally a post code lottery.
The doctor I saw is new at our critically-understaffed surgery. They change all the time and I never see the same one twice. I’ll know to avoid this one in future but waiting times are up to three weeks. I should have been suspicious when offered an appointment with Dr Useless in only a fortnight!

My godmother tells me she recently went to her GP for a check up. After he'd examined her he told her she was remarkably healthy and could probably live to be 110! I don't know how old she is but my mother would have been 100 this year and there can't be more than a year or two between them. She certainly still seems to be looked after by her doctor.

vickya I agree that not everyone can afford private care and I wouldn't have had to go down that route if the GP had been on the ball at my follow up appointment! As you say emergency services and A&E are fantastic and they certainly saved my life in the first instance

I have a joke with my friends that if you are going to the GP or the out patients and want good service, you must dress well to make it look like you are worth while saving.

Watermeadow - you need to see a different GP. I took my 97 yr old mother to the GP on Friday with a rash on her legs. The GP examined her legs and prescribed a cream. Then he discussed her general health with her, reviewed her prescriptions and took her blood pressure as well as ordering blood tests to check on kidney and liver functioning. We all worked a long time and paid a lot of money in income tax and national insurance so make sure you get what you are entitled to. ie decent medical care from your primary provider.

valeriej43. Your doctor was talking rubbish, a friend of mine was put on the priority list for a liver transplant when he was 70 and was 71 when a liver became available. Sadly he died as a result of problems with the surgery, but that can happen after a transplant at any age.

He was told age was not a factor but his physical health, and as he was still a fit and active man with a busy life and no mental frailty he was a good prospect for a transplant

That was very disapointing! Giving good services to people should not be based on their age or what.